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Unlawful seizure of monastic lands in Kosovo and Metohija continuing

4. April 2014 - 12:45

According to a report of the brethren of the Serbian Monastery of Sts Cosmas and Damian in Zociste, a local Albanian individual has recently seized a parcel of land, belonging to the monastery. The brethren have discovered that one of local Albanians unlawfully ploughed up and farmed the piece of land, situated not far from the monastery, reports the Kosovo Diary portal. At the same time, the monastery possesses all necessary documentation for this land.

Furthermore, since the beginning of the construction work on the restoration of the monastery complex, there have been ongoing verbal provocations against the brethren and workers. Sts Cosmas and Damian Monastery is situated close to the settlement of Orahovac in Metohija and is famous for its numerous miracles of healing from the saints' relics. In spite of its nationwide popularity, the monastery was completely destroyed in 1999 by Albanian militants and the church was blown up. The Serbian population was virtually driven away from the immediate vicinity of the monastery. At the present time a small community of monks, headed by Archimandrite Stephen, is living in the monastery. It remains the center of spiritual life, first of all for the Serbians from neighboring Orahovac and Velika Hoca.